Firefox Operating system centered devices namely, the ZTE Open and Alcatel One Touch Fire, have reach store shelves in Spain and other nations like Poland, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil for approximately Rs 5000. While these phones are very simple with 3.5 inch screen, i1 GHz processor chp and 256 MB Random access memory. These devices also come with 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS with A-GPS assist as well. There is a 3.15 mega-pixel primary camera, 512 MB internal storage space with micro SD card port and 2 GB card in the package deal.

The importance of the release lies with the simple fact that Firefox OS is the only opposition to Android operating system in access level section to reach the market. While Apple iOS and Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 both contend with Android but only in the middle to high section. Android has so much had unchallenged leadership in entry level smartphone and tablet segment, which is adding greatest amount for Android, based smartphones. Firefox Operating system is made by Mozilla and facilitates HTML5 based applications, which indicate that it will be very effortless for developers to create applications for these phones. Also the Operating system is very light and therefore will not place a lot of strain on phones resources and therefore it is expected that phone like ZTE Wide open will still run simple in spite of having very simple requirements.

So why is it that Mozilla select to neglect India which is by much the biggest market for access level smartphones? Well it has to do more with logistics and submission issue than anything else, Mozilla has gone for operator motivated sales model wherein operators sell the phones. In India, apart from a few operators many sell the phones as they don’t have that sales channel available in India.

However other large reason is the predominance of Indian people in the device space who are greatly into Android ecosystem and for them to change to provide Firefox OS based devices will take a great deal of convincing from Mozilla But a big market like India can’t be overlooked and therefore Sony appears to be organizing to launch Firefox version of its Xperia E in India. As we reported previously, it is busy testing the phone and is expected to soon launch in India

By doing so Sony will preserve a lot of money as it won’t need to develop new components; it’s just porting that needs to be done. We do not expect Sony to selling price the phone at Rs 5,000 level instead the Firefox OS based version will be valued at same level as Xperia E Android version. Both Firefox and Android are free operating systems so it is only the components and development cost which will determine the price. We do not know the timelines of the launch, but we hope that it is earlier than later.